Convertible building



Apm 29 1924. 1,492,327 F. J. KEPFLER v CONVERTIBLE BUILDING Filed May 22 1920 2 VSheets-Sheet l @agi April 29 1924.

2 SheeLS-Sheet 2 Filed May 22 1920 Patented iipr. 29, lzd.

STATES FRED J. KEPPLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

oonvnn'rrnnn BUILDING.

application mea may 22; i920. serial No. 383,419.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, FRED J. `KnrrLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New 5 York, have invented new and useful linprovements in .Convertible Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a convertible building and more particularly to a buildio ing provided with removable partitions and posts which can be variously arranged to .suit the required division of the available space between the floor and ceiling of the building. y

rEhe object of this invention is the provision of means for mounting the partition and posts between the floor and ceiling which permit of erecting and dismantling the same quickly and easily and without the 20 use of tools or necessitating any trying and fitting.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a fragmentary vertical section of a building equipped with my improvements. Fig- 25 ures 2 and 3 are fragmentary vertical sections taken on the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 4. Figures 4, 5 and 6 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2. Figure 7 is S a vertical section taken on line 7 7, Fig. 2. Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 7. Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary perspective views of the follower and the partition, respectively.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

11 represents the floor of the building and l2 the ceiling thereof both of which are et? horizontal and may be incorporated in the building in any suitable or approved manner. Between the ceiling and floor a plurality of posts 13 and partitions 14 are mounted for dividing this space, as desired. 4i The means for securing the posts and partitions in place are constructed as follows: Between the upper and lower ends of each post and the ceiling and licor are arranged two coupling devices whereby the post and if: adjacent partitions are connected with each other and the floor and ceiling. As these upper and lower coupling devices are alike in construction and operation, the following description of one applies to all of them:

l represents hollow body of the con pling device which is provided with a horizontal base plate 16 adapted to engage either the floor or the ceiling as a support and provided with a central hollowT hub 60 and a plurality of hollow sections 17 preferably four, arranged around said hub. Centrally within the hub is arranged a vertical socket' or tubular guide 18, the outer end of which is vertically in line with a centering pin or dowel 19 on the adjacent end of the post. The upper coupling body is preferably fixed on the ceiling by means of screws 2O but the lower coupling body is held in place on the floor simply by friction. In order to retain the post in place between the coinpanion upper and lower coupling bodies, pressure is eXerted against each end of the post by a cup-shaped presser head 2l which is movable vertically and guided in the socket of the respective ycoupling body but limited against outward movement by a stop bolt or guide rod 22 arranged centrally in the guide 18 and provided at its lower end with a stop head 23 while its upper end is secured to therespective base plate. 24 is a spring arranged in the tubular guide around the guide `rod and bearing at its lower end against the presser plate while its upper end bears against a vertically movable follower 25 sliding within the guide tube. The downward movement of the follower is produced by one or more horizontally movable wedges 26 which are guided on the coupling body and provided at their inner ends with inclined surfaces 2'? engaging with correspondingly inclined surfaces 28 on the follower. ln the preferred construction, two pairs of such wedges are employed on diametrically opposite sides of the hub of the coupling body, the members of each pair being arranged parallel and on opposite sides of a pair of guide ribs or flanges 29 on the front side of the respective base plate. At their outer ends the wedges of each pair are connected by a pin 30 which passes through short horizontal slots 3l in the wedges and long horizontal slots 32 in the ribs 29. On the central part of this pin is mounted the outer end of a locking link 33 which latter is guided to move vertically at its inner end on the adjacent part of the hub of the coupling body, this being preferably accomplished by meansy of a transverse pinw34 arranged on thepinner end of the linie 33 and engaging raul with vertical slots oi'nied in a pair of upright guide ribs 36 in the hub betiveen which the inner end orp the link nioves. rl`he raisins and lowering of the latter inay be etl'ected by various ineans7 for instance, by a pair of vertical shifting rods or handles 37 connected at their ends with opposite ends of the pin 34e and' provided at their front ends With eyes 38 which are adapted, in the operativeY position of this link, to be secured to eyes 39 on the adjacent part of the post by means of pins 40.

At right angles to theV locking lin ts 33 siinilar locking links 41 areY arranged on diainetrically opposite sidesfot the hub Yot the coupling body and each guided at'its outer end by means oit a pin i2 thereon engaging with horizontal 'slots '43 in the ribs 6l vof the adjacent body section While its'v inner end is guided on a pin lll thereon en-Y gaging with vertical slots 45 in ribs 416 on the hub. rllherpin 44: is provided at its ends With vertical shitting rods 47 which are provided with eyes 38 adapted to be locked to ofthe `coupling bodies While ne horizontal upper andY lower edges ot the partition enthe ceiling and the tico" and the vertical edges the saine engag "4 e the opposing sides oi a pair of npani n horizontal siiriaeeot each of these recesses is provilcd with socket which is eiably fom .d in a cap 33 oit' inetal secured to the partition by 4t2 to reduce the Wear upon the v saine.

ln' theoiierative position ot each oirthe links 33 and ell the saine is arranged in inclined position and entends troni the outer end oi the respective body section to the leiter part the hub thereoiC and it a partition engages with the respective 'facet of the 4post, the locking links associated with the adjacent posts engage With the locking socketsi oi the partition and hold the saine in place. By securing the shitt'n these links to the posts on opposi each partition by nieans orn the person ocerlil partition is prevented tron i'eniovirj the parti ion ind access to the rooin on the other sideS thus insuring safety and privacy. v

in the operation ot erecting the posts and partitions to divide the pace into rooms, each post is g rods ot te sides ot pins efe i, o

lower d ovvelfo the post being engaged withy the presser head in vtlie socket jot the lower coupling body,'while the upper -doWel ofthe ying a room on one sident the post is enga-ged With the presser li"- l ofthe iipper coupling1 body. lf tour par, tions are to be associzited iif'ith each post tivo ot theni are first placed in line with those ai'ins oit the upper and lower companion coupling bodies which contain. the pairs ot wedges, after Twhich the locking links 33 are shifted by ine-ans ot the rods 37 from their hori- Zontal inopcr lir s at the lett ot Fig. 2, to Ytheir inclined position, shown at the right of the saine ligure, in which last mentioned ligure each ot t e links inteilocks With a socket 52 ot odia/cent partition and holds the saine in rlit position. VThe shitting ot the A.foin the horizontal te theA inclined tion also causes the wedges associated therewith to be inoved inwardly whereby the. ollovvers are inoved toward Vthe ends of the rcspe ive post, whereby the springs tiered or strained and pressure is `.cited end thD dresser heads 2l are held eirnily in engage `ient with the ends of' the post, so that the letter will resist displacenient.V The links 33 are then locked inV their operati-ire position y nieans of the pins 40.

liv/'providing the wedges with comparatively short slots -li and the ribs Q9 AWith long slots the links are capable oi inoving hori- :fiintally to sonic extent independently ot the Wedges and thus ierniit ot nioving the lat.-

ter imaparativelf short'distance snllicient to operate the respective follower While peiftt' the inner ends of the linksto nieve a sutiicient extent to properljv iniith the sockets at thecorners ot the partition. The other tvfo partitions are noir similarly engaged with the other tivo facets ot the post and the adjacent sections of the upper and lower coupling bodies and then the links are shifted troni a horizontal position, into Van inclined position tor engaging Athe saineA vfith the sockets 52 ot the partition, so that the seine is retained in place atter which these links aie'likeivise held in their operative position by n'ieans ot the pinslO. Y

lil less Athan Vtoni' partitions'are to be eniployed in connection with a post. only those loe.Y ng links are inoved 'frein their horizontal position to an inclined position which ere in line` ivith a partition so as to engage With the socket otthe latter Vand hold the saine Upright, ont, `Awhen milj-fone partition is employed the saine .e 1 e placed in line with links which associated ivi th wedges so that the post will be clamped to the eeriling and floor at the saine time that thc respective partition is locked in an upright position.

lii order to' conceal the -working parts vWithinv each liolloiv body and prevent the saine tronibeing seen troni iv the rooinsi the front side of each Vbody is provided with a cover Tirioh l which n1. cir.

the links are free to move, this cover being attached to the body by screws 56 or other suitable means.

l claim as my invention:

l. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said suppor.7 a post arranged in line with said body, and clamping means interposed between said body and postcomprising a presser head adapted to engage the end of said post, a s ring bearing against said head, and means f r flexing said spring.

2. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said sup port, a post arranged in line with said bodv, and clamping means interposed between said body and post comprising a presser head adapted to engage the end of said post, a Sing bearing against head. and means for flexing said spring, comprising a follower' bearing against said spring, a wedge adapted to shift said follower and means for shifting the wedge to engage and shift the follower to flex the spring.

3. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a. post arranged in line with said body and clamping means interposed between said body and post comprising a presser head adapted to engage the end of said post, a sp1-ing bearing against said head, means for flexing said spring, comprising a follower bearing against said spring, a wedge adapted to shift said follower, a link connected` with said wedge and with said body, and means for operating said link and retaining the same in place.

4. A convertible building having a support., a coupling body mounted on said support, a post arranged in line with said body, and clamping means interposed between said body and post comprising a presser head adapted to engage the end of said post, a spring bearing against said head, and means for flexing said spring comprising a follower bearing against said spring, a wedge adapted to shift said follower, a link connected with .said wedge and with said body, and' means for operating said link and retaining the same in its operative position in which said wedge presses the spring against said head.

5. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a post arranged in line with said body, and clamping means interposed between said body and post comprising a presser rhead adapted to engage the end of said post, a sp 1ing bearing against said head, and means for iiexing said spring comprising a follower bearing against said spring, a wedge adapted to shift said follower, a link connected with said lwedge and said body, and means for retaining said link in its opera tive position comprising a shifting rod con nected with said link and provided with an eye, and a pin arranged on saidy post and adapted to receive said eye.

6. A convertible building having a sup port, a coupling body mounted on said support, a post arranged in line with said body, and clamping means interposed between said body and post comprising a presser head adapted to engage the end of said post, a follower, a spring interposed between said presser head and follower, a guide rod which is slidably connected with said follower and upon which said presser head slides, a wedge guided on said body and engaging said follower, and a link connected with said wedge and with said body and adapted when moved into an inclined position to shift said wedge into engagement with said follower.

'7. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a post arranged in line with said body, and clamping means interposed between said body and post comprising a presser head adapted toengage the end of said post. a. follower, a spring interposed between said presser head and follower, a guide rod which is slidably connected with said follower and upon which said presser head slides, a horizontal wedge guided to move horizontally on said body and engaging with said follower, and a link connected at one end with said wedge and slidingly connected at its opposite end with said body to move vertically on the latter.

8. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a post arranged in line with said body, a partition arranged adjacent to said Asupport, post and body and provided in the adjacent corner with a socket, and independent means arranged on said body and engaging with said socket.

9. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said snpport, a post arranged in line with said body, a partition arranged adjacent to said support, post and body and provided in the adjacent corner with a socket, and independent clamping means arranged between said body and post and having a member engaging with said socket.

10. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a post arranged in line with said body, and clamping means interposed between said body and post comprising a presser head adapted to engage the end of said post, a follower, a spring interposed between said presser head and follower, a guide rod which is slidably connected with said follower and upon which said presser head slides, a horizontal wedge guided on said body and engaging said follower, a link connected with said wedge and guided vertically on said'body, and a partition provided in its corner with a socket which receives 12. A convertible building oompiising a 10 said link. support, a post and a partition arranged 11. A convertible building,` comprising' a adjacent to said support and post and p0 support, a post and a partition arranged ad.- vided with a socket, and means :toi1 securing 5 jacent to said support and post and providsaid post to said suppoit comprising a lockv ed With a socket, and independent means foi? ing link slidable horizontally and veitieally 15 securing said post to said support having a on said support and adapted to lnove into movable locking` nienibei engaging with Said and out of engagement With said socket.

socket. FRED J. KEDPLER. 

